National Football League

Pryor helps Raiders lead Chargers 24-3 after 3rd

Published Oct. 7, 2013 7:11 a.m. ET

foxsports

Terelle Pryor threw for 141 yards and two touchdowns and the Oakland Raiders took a 24-3 lead over the San Diego Chargers after three quarters Sunday night.

Charles Woodson returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown with less than three minutes to play in the third quarter, his 13th career defensive touchdown, tying him for first on the all-time list with Rod Woodson and Darren Sharper.

Sebastian Janikowski had a 47-yard field goal late in the second quarter. Pryor had another touchdown pass called back because of a penalty.

Nick Novak kicked a 35-yard field goal with 4:51 remaining in the third to put the Chargers on the board.

A huge defensive play from Oakland linebacker Kevin Burnett stopped the Chargers inches short of a touchdown early in the second quarter and a muffed punt return spoiled a pair of chances the Chargers had of getting into the end zone.

Pryor, who missed last week's 24-14 loss to Washington with a concussion, connected with Rod Streater for 44 yards and Denarius Moore for two yards as he completed all eight passes he attempted in the first quarter for 105 yards.

Pryor, in his third year, became the first quarterback to throw for two touchdowns without an incomplete pass in the opening period since Dallas' Tony Romo did it Nov. 13, 2011, against the Buffalo Bills.

Pryor, who completed his first 10 passes, struck quickly, connecting with Streater on a 44-yard scoring strike on the Raiders' first play from scrimmage.

Usama Young picked off Philip Rivers' pass to set up the touchdown. Young was the only player even close to Rivers' long pass. He caught it like a wide receiver, turned around and raced 25 yards.

Novak's field goal came after a touchdown pass was overturned by replay and a blocked field goal try.

The Chargers started their drive from their own nine. Rivers needed a 25-yard completion to Keenan Allen to convert a third-and-12 to Oakland's 41-yard line.

The drive stalled at Oakland's 19. Novak's 37-yard try was blocked by Tracy Porter but the loose ball was picked up by Ladarius Green and advanced five yards for a first down.

Allen caught an 11-yard pass from Rivers in the corner of the end zone that was originally called a touchdown and later reversed, leading to Novak's field goal.

The Raiders' second touchdown culminated a 13-play, 88-yard drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock.

San Diego took the ensuing kickoff and drove 79 yards in 11 plays and then came up short on the next two plays from the Raiders one, an incomplete pass intended for tight end Antonio Gates and a no gain on Danny Woodhead's run, who was met by Burnett and pushed back. Lamarr Houston pulled him down from behind.

The Raiders stalled on their next drive. Marquette King's punt was muffed by Eddie Royal, though, and was recovered by Chimdi Chekwa, which eventually led to Janikowski's field goal.

Taiwan Jones may have had a hand in distracting Royal, as he was within a yard of the returner as the ball arrived.

Woodson picked up Woodhead's fumble and wove his way across the field for the score.

Woodhead was in the game because Chargers running back Ryan Mathews left early with a concussion.

Houston sacked Rivers for a nine-yard loss on a third down play with just under two minutes to play in the half.

Rivers' first three passes went for a minus-2, an interception and another badly overthrown pass.

The Chargers were held to 114 yards in total offense in the half.

Less than 24 hours earlier, the Coliseum was the scene of the Oakland Athletics' 1-0 walkoff win over the Detroit Tigers, which forced the Raiders to make the time change in the first place, making it the latest start in NFL history.

The conversation to football from baseball was completed about five hours before game time.